2 soldiers killed in Comval ambush

TWO soldiers were killed in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Anitapan in Mabini, Compostela Valley yesterday morning. Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Ernesto Carolina identified the fatalities as Private Jervwin Teodoro and Private Reyned Pasadao, belonging to the Peace and Development Team of the 71st Infantry Battalion.

Carolina, in a text message, said the two enlisted personnel, who attended the “38th Araw ng Anitapan”, were returning to their patrol base when an undetermined number of armed men shot the two near the gymnasium around 3 a.m.

“The two (Teodoro and Pasadao) came from Nueva Ecija. They have just started their immersion here in Anitapan, among the 34 barangays of Mabini. Bago pa talaga sila sa area, unfortunately, ito pa talaga ang nangyari sa kanila,” Carolina said.

Carolina said that the two soldiers succumbed to several gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies. He added that they have yet to identify the group of NPA that attacked the two who were off duty during the time they attended the festival.

“We condemn the move of the NPA rebels if they were behind this incident. The two soldiers were unarmed and clearly incapable of defending themselves. Yet, the group Karapatan never take notice of incidents like this,” Carolina said.